One of the most common causes of flight interruptions is flight strikes, which may be initiated by airline workers, an airport itself, or an airline. As a passenger, you should be aware of European Union Regulation 261, under which you may be entitled to compensation of up to 600 Euros.
Continue reading to find out how you can get compensation and in which situations.
Your Passenger Rights
The good news is that every air traveler is protected by EU Regulation 261. The EU 261/2004 is a European Union regulation that sets the rules for compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight delays and cancellations. Now, let’s take a closer look at air passenger rights, under EU 261:
- The airline has to provide passengers with information about their rights.
- In case of flight cancellation, a passenger has the right to select one of these options: either a ticket refund or rerouting to the final destination under similar conditions;
- Passengers can expect to receive food and beverages; they are also entitled to have two free phone calls, e-mails, or faxes.
- If you decide to reroute, and it involves an overnight stay, the airline is required to provide hotel accommodation, as well as transportation between the airport and the hotel.
- Compensation from 250 to 600 euros per passenger
When You Are Entitled to PLAY Airlines Strike Compensation
Frequently, PLAY Airlines strikes involve their workers. These can be engineers, pilots, flight attendants, or any other crucial employees. As you’re now aware, you have the right to claim airline strike compensation, if your travel was disrupted. The compensation will then cover the inconvenience you experienced due to the strike.
It is also crucial to understand what “extraordinary circumstances” are. These are events beyond the airline’s control. If a strike is considered one of these circumstances, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation. It is important to note if a staff strike happens, the airline could have potentially foreseen and managed such incidents, therefore such cases are within the airline’s control. That is when flight disruptions are made by the airline’s own employees, they are not cases of extraordinary circumstances. Consequently, passengers have a right to claim flight compensation.
Nonetheless, you need to be aware that each incident is unique, meaning that every flight disruption caused by a strike must be carefully analyzed to determine whether the airline will provide compensation.
PLAY Airlines Strike Compensation
Before seeking compensation for an airline strike, you should be aware of the criteria and the amount of compensation you might receive.
PLAY Airlines Strike Flight Delay Compensation
The longer a flight is delayed, the more trouble it causes passengers. When airline workers go on strike, it can disrupt passengers’ plans and make them arrive at their final destination much later than expected. It is essential to understand that if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours due to a strike, you can claim compensation from the airline for the inconvenience caused.
When considering the potential sum of compensation, passengers should take two critical facts into account: the flight’s distance and the duration of the delay. It’s crucial to understand these details, as only that is how you can be calm regarding the fair flight delay compensation you deserve. Below you can see a table with the amounts of compensation you can receive.
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
PLAY Airlines Strike Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes, it also happens that airline strikes result in flight cancellations. According to EU Regulation 261, you may receive compensation of up to 600 Euros. Note that the regulation also states that you are entitled to compensation in the case when the airline notified you about the cancellation less than 14 days before your travel.
However, there are always some exceptions to the rules, and here is the case. The airline is entitled to avoid paying compensation if it provides the passenger an alternative flight. This flight must meet the requirements listed below:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Importantly, if you used an alternative flight but your final arrival time at the destination point was still delayed, you can claim compensation.
The amount of the compensation is based on the flight distance and the time of delay in arriving at the final destination. Take a look at the table below for additional information:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Which PLAY Airlines Flights Are Covered by EU261?
The EU261 regulation covers all flights departing from EU airports, regardless of the airline, as well as flights arriving in the EU from non-EU countries if they are operated by EU airlines. The regulation also covers flights to/from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
The table below shows which PLAY Airlines flights are protected by EU Regulation 261:
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ✅ Covered |
How to Claim PLAY Airlines Strike Compensation
If you have experienced flight delays or cancellations at least once, you know how irritating it can be.
Travelers who experience any of these issues on PLAY Airlines flights have a right to claim compensation, according to EU regulations. Follow these steps to claim compensation:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.